Life Walk Lesson 76: — The Priesthood in the Kingdom of God
The Priesthood in the Kingdom of God, in the Order of Melchizedek
From the Canon:
Genesis 14:18-19
“And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High [Hebrew: El Elyon]. He blessed him and said, ‘Blessed be Abram, of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ He gave him a tenth of all.”
The Aaronic Priesthood
Deuteronomy 18:1-8 (NASB)
1 “The Levitical priests, the whole tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the Lord’s offerings by fire and His portion.
2 They shall have no inheritance among their countrymen; the Lord is their inheritance, as He promised them.
3 “Now this shall be the priests’ due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, either an ox or a sheep, of which they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach.
4 You shall give him the first fruits of your grain, your new wine, and your oil, and the first shearing of your sheep.
5 For the Lord your God has chosen him and his sons from all your tribes, to stand and serve in the name of the Lord forever.
6 “Now if a Levite comes from any of your towns throughout Israel where he resides, and comes whenever he desires to the place which the Lord chooses, 7 then he shall serve in the name of the Lord his God, like all his fellow Levites who stand there before the Lord.
8 They shall eat equal portions, except what they receive from the sale of their fathers’ estates.”
The same passage from the Septuagint:
“The priests, the Levites, even the whole tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel; the burnt-offerings of the Lord are their inheritance, they shall eat them. And they shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the Lord himself is his portion, as he said to him. And this is the due of the priests in the things coming from the people from those who offer sacrifices, whether it be a calf or a sheep; and thou shalt give the shoulder to the priest, and the cheeks, and the great intestine: and the first-fruits of thy corn, and of thy wine, and of thine oil; and thou shalt give to him the first-fruits of the fleeces of thy sheep: because the Lord has chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand before the Lord thy God, to minister and bless in his name, himself and his sons among the children of Israel. And if a Levite come from one of the cities of all the children of Israel, where he himself dwells, accordingly as his mind desires, to the place which he shall have chosen, he shall minister to the name of the Lord his God, as all his brethren the Levites, who stand there present before the Lord thy God. He shall eat an allotted portion, besides the sale of his hereditary property."
Deuteronomy 26 — The First-Fruits Offering in greater detail:
The Offering: by the Priesthood, in the Order of Melchizedek
Note: When the disciples had gathered together after the Ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven, they partook of The Offering, as recorded in The Legends of our Lady Mary the Perpetual Virgin, and her Mother Hanna, (Published by the Medici Society, Ltd; MCMXXII; Translated by E. A. W. Budge; This was the name they used to describe the Eucharist, or Communion.
From: The Oldest Church Manual, Chapter 18, “on the Agape and Eucharist, the Thanksgiving, the Lord’s Supper, the Second Sacrament of the Apostolic Church. In Chapter XIV “as a pure sacrifice to be offered on the Lord’s Day…”
The Didache in chapters 9-10 give the oldest elements of the eucharist service…”
Matthew 26:26-28 (NASB)
The Lord’s Supper Instituted
26 “While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.’”
1 Corinthians 10-11 The Cup of Blessing
1 Peter 2:4-5
“And coming to Him as to a Living Stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 2:9-10
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Historical evidence of Melchizedek outside of the Canon
The Book of the Cave of Treasures: [The Departure of Shem with the Body of Adam, Shem Carries the body of Adam to Golgotha, and notes, and, Shem’s Commands to Melchizedek, and notes]
The Ancient Book of Jasher, in Chapter 16:1-21, records the events which occurred at the time of the Battle of the Kings, after which Abram meets Melchizedek, as recorded in the Book of Genesis, in Chapter 14:17-19, and God’s covenant with Abram.
Chapter 16:
Some of the text in Jasher is missing, however it is made evident in the notes that it is Melchizedek spoken of here, although he is called “Adonizedek, the same was Shem”.
Notice: this is the only account I have found so far which refers to Shem as being Melchizedek
The Book of Jubilees: R. H. Charles, gives ample evidence of the existence of a Priesthood in the Order of Melchizedek in hiss introduction to The Book of Jubilees. It was a title used once again during the time of the Maccabees. The title, Priest of the Most High God, in the Order of Melchizedek is referred to also in The Testament of Levi v, viii:15, and ix; and in Jubilees xxxii:1; xxxvi:16, The Assumption of Moses vi.1, and in the writings of the historian Josephus’ Antiquities xvi.6.2; . [Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament, Volume 2, R.H. Charles, from the Introduction, Sections 9 (P. 6) and 15 (P. 9); and a note at the end of 2Enoch 68:5-7
The Kebra Nagast: Chapters 13-15 — Concerning Abram, and the Covenant of Abraham, and Isaac and Jacob
Chapter 13 — Concerning Abram
13. CONCERNING ABRAHAM
“And Târâ (Terah) begot a son and called him "Abraham" (or, Abram). And when Abraham was twelve years old his father Terah sent him to sell idols. And Abraham said, "These are not gods that can make deliverance"; and he took away the idols to sell even as his father had commanded him. And he said unto those unto whom he would sell them, "Do ye wish to buy gods that cannot make deliverance, [things] made of wood, and stone, and iron, and brass, which the hand of an artificer hath made?" And they refused to buy the idols from Abraham because he himself had defamed the images of his father. And as he was returning he stepped aside from the road, and he set the images down, and looked at them, and said unto them, ‘I wonder now if ye are able to do what I ask you at this moment, and whether ye are able to give me bread to eat or water to drink?’ And none of them answered him, for they were pieces of stone and wood; and he abused them and heaped revilings upon them, and they spake never a word. And he buffeted the face of one, and kicked another with his feet, and a third he knocked over and broke to pieces with stones, and he said unto them, ‘If ye are unable to deliver yourselves from him that buffeteth you, and ye cannot requite with injury him that injureth you, how can ye be called 'gods'? Those who worship you do so in vain, and as for myself I utterly despise you, and ye shall not be my gods.’
Then he turned his face to the East, and he stretched out his hands and said, ‘Be Thou my God, O Lord, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Creator of the sun and the moon, Creator of the sea and the dry land, Maker of the majesty of the heavens and the earth, and of that which is visible and that which is invisible; O Maker of the universe, be Thou my God. I place my trust in Thee, and from this day forth I will place my trust in no other save Thyself.’
And then there appeared unto him a chariot of fire which blazed, and Abraham was afraid and fell on his face on the ground; and [God] said unto him, ‘Fear thou not, stand upright.’ And He removed fear from him.”
Chapter 14 — Abram/Abraham:
14. CONCERNING THE COVENANT OF ABRAHAM
“And God held converse with Abrâm, and He said unto him, ‘Fear thou not. From this day thou art My servant, and I will establish My Covenant with thee and with thy seed after thee, and I will multiply thy seed, and I will magnify thy name exceedingly. And I will bring down the Tabernacle of My Covenant upon the earth seven generations after thee, and it shall go round about with thy seed, and shall be salvation unto thy race; and afterwards I will send My Word for the salvation of Adam and his sons for ever. And at this moment these who are of thy kinsmen are evil men (or, rebels), and My divinity, which is true, they have rejected. And as for thee, that day by day they may not seduce thee, come, get thee forth out of this land, the land of thy fathers, into the land which I will show thee, and I will give it unto thy seed after thee.’ And Abrâm made obeisance to God, and was subject to his God. And [God] said unto him, ‘Thy name shall be Abraham’; and He gave him-the salutation of peace and went up into heaven.
“And Abraham returned to his abode, and he took Sârâ (Sarah) his wife, and went forth and did not go back to his father, and his mother, and his house, and his kinsfolk; and he forsook them all for God's sake. And he arrived in the city of Sâlêm, and dwelt there and reigned in righteousness, and did not transgress the commandment of God.
“And God blessed him exceedingly, and at length he possessed [3]18 stalwart servants, who were trained in war, and who stood before him and performed his will. And they wore tunics richly embroidered with gold, and they had chains of gold about their necks, and belts of gold round their loins, and they had crowns of gold on their heads; and by means of these men Abraham vanquished [his] foe. And he died in glory in God, and was more gracious and excellent than those who were before him. He was gracious, and held in honour, and highly esteemed.”
Chapter 15 — Isaac and Jacob:
15. CONCERNING ISAAC AND JACOB
“And Isaac his son became king, and he did not transgress the commandment of God; and he was pure in his soul and in his body, and he died in honour. And his son Jacob reigned, and he also did not transgress the commandment of God, and his possessions became numerous, and his children were many; and God blessed him and he died in honour.”
Chapter 105 — Concerning the Belief of Abraham, and his meeting Melchizedek:
105. CONCERNING THE BELIEF OF ABRAHAM
“And thou dost not understand that they were justified by faith—Abraham, and David and all the Prophets, one after the other, who prophesied concerning the coming of the Son of God. And Abraham said, ‘Wilt Thou in my days, O Lord, cast Thy word upon the ground?’ And God said unto him, ‘By no means. His time hath not yet come, but I will shew thee a similitude of His coming. Get thee over the Jordan, and dip thyself in the water as thou goest over, and arrive at the city of Sâlêm, where thou shalt meet Melchizedek, and I will command him to show thee the sign and similitude of Him.’
“And Abraham did this and he found Melchizedek, and he gave him the mystery of the bread and wine, that same which is celebrated in our Passover for our salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the desire and the joy of Abraham as he went round the altar which Melchizedek had made, carrying branch and palm on the day of the Sabbath. See how the rejoiced in his belief, and see how he was justified by his belief, O blind Jew, who though having eyes seest not, and having ears hearest not, even as the Prophet Isaiah saith concerning you, ‘Their eyes are blind, and their hearts are covered with darkness, so that they may not understand and God may not show compassion unto them.’” {See also: John 8:56}
John 8:38-39 (NASB)
38 “‘I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father.’
39 They answered and said to Him, ‘Abraham is our father.’ Jesus *said to them, ‘If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham.’”
Unrelated to Melchizedek directly, but of interest, as Jesus Christ is our High Priest, in the Order of Melchizedek. The passage in Chapters 106 and 107 amplify Luke’s account of how Jesus elaborated on Scripture which had prophesied of His coming (Luke 24:26-28)
Notice: I have included the links to the online pages for your convenience, as the Footnotes are extensive in relation to where these quotes are found in Scripture.
Chapter 106: A Prophecy concerning the Coming of Christ:
106. A PROPHECY CONCERNING THE COMING OF CHRIST
“And now hearken how each one of them hath prophesied concerning Him, [for the narrative] is pleasant to hear. Isaiah the Prophet prophesied concerning His coming and said, ‘A Son is born unto us. A Child is given unto us. Dominion is written upon His shoulder. He is God, strong in rule, King, great Counsellor is His name.’ Now the meaning of this is manifest: the Son of God is born, Whose sovereignty was written down before the world was, and He is wiser than anyone else: [this is what] he saith unto thee.
“And again Isaiah prophesied and said, ‘Behold My servant Whom I have chosen, on Whom is the delight of My soul, and the nations shall put their confidence in Him.’ And these words give us to understand that Christ is the Spirit of God, the Word of the Father Who put on our flesh and was born for us: and the peoples of Rômê and Ethiopia and all other nations have believed in Him. And he spake unto the people of Israel, and again he prophesied, saying, ‘Many shall follow after Thee with their loins girded up, and their backs bound with fetters, and they shall pray to Thee and worship Thee, for thou art God, and we have not recognized Thee.’
“Now this he spake concerning the martyrs, and those who became monks in the desert and solitary monks, whose hearts were fettered with His commandment, and who prayed to Him, meaning that reward was meet for both the martyrs and the solitary monks. ‘And we did not recognize Thee’: Israel made itself blind, and crucified Him, and refused to walk in His righteousness.
“And again Isaiah prophesied and said, ‘God shall come, and the heathen shall put their trust in Him and shall know Him;’ this meaneth that Christ shall come, and the Jews shall reject Him, but the heathen shall believe in Him. And again he prophesied and said, ‘Be strong ye weak hands and tired knees, and rejoice ye hearts that are cast down, for God hath come, Who shall requite our debt, and save us. And He shall open the eyes of the blind, and He shall make the ears of the deaf to hear, and the feet that are lame shall run, and the tongues of the dumb shall speak.’
“These words are spoken in respect of those who err in worshipping idols, and those who are dead in sin, and those whose hearts are darkened, and of you who do not know that God created you. Rejoice ye this day: He hath come Who will redeem the sin of Adam, and make Adam's debt His own. He was crucified being sinless. He hath killed Death by means of His own death, and the blind see, and the lame walk, and the deaf hear, and the dumb speak unhaltingly, and besides all these things the dead are raised. This is the meaning of this prophecy.
“Thus David the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘God shall come in visible form, and our God will not keep silence.’
“Thus Jeremiah prophesied and said, ‘God shall come down upon the earth, and shall walk about with men like us.’
“Thus Ezekiel the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘I your God will come, and I will walk about among them, and they shall know Me that I am their God.’
“Thus David prophesied and said, ‘Blessed is He Who cometh in the name of God: we have blessed you in the Name of the Lord.’
“Thus Habakkuk prophesied and said, ‘God shall come from the South, and the Holy One from Mount Fârân and from the cities of Judah.’
"Thus Elijah the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘With a new covenant shall God come unto us.’
“Thus Joel the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘The heavenly Emmanuel shall come and shall deliver the work which He hath fashioned with His own hand from the hand of the Devil, the deceiver, and his devils which lead astray.’
“Thus David the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘The God of gods shall show Himself in Zion. The people say out of Zion, A man is born therein, and He the Most High hath founded it.’
“Thus Solomon his son prophesied and said, ‘Verily God shall be with men, and He shall walk about upon the earth.’
“Thus his father David prophesied and said, ‘He shall come down like the dew upon wool, and like the drop which droppeth upon the earth, and righteousness shall spring into being in his days.’
“Thus Solomon his son prophesied and said, ‘A Saviour shall be born out of Zion, and He shall remove sin from Jacob.’
“Thus Hosea the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘I will come to thee, O Zion, and I will walk about in thee, Jerusalem, saith God, the Holy One of Israel.’
“Thus Micah the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘The Word of God shall appear in Jerusalem, and the Law shall go forth from Zion.’
“Thus Hosea the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘God shall appear upon the earth, and shall dwell with men like us.’
“Thus Jeremiah the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘A saviour shall be sent from Zion, and He shall remove sin from the people of Israel.’
“Thus Micah the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘God shall come from the heavens and dwell in His temple (or, citadel).’
"Thus Zechariah the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘Rejoice, O daughter of Zion! Behold, I am alive, and I will dwell in thee, saith God, the Holy One of Israel.’
“Thus Micah the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘Behold, God shall come, and shall shine upon those who fear Him; Sun of righteousness is His Name.’
“Thus Hosea the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘God shall come upon thee, Jerusalem, and shall appear in the midst of thee.’
“Thus David the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘And He shall live, and they shall give Him of the gold of Arabia, and they shall pray for Him continually, and He shall be the stay of all the earth upon the tops of the mountains.’
“Thus Job the just prophesied and said, 'God shall walk about upon the earth, and He shall travel over the sea as upon the dry land.’
“Thus David the Prophet prophesied and said, 'He bowed the heavens and came down.’
“Thus Isaiah the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive, and shall bring forth a Son, and she shall call His name Emmanuel.’
“Thus David the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘brought Thee forth from the womb before the star of the morning.’ And again he said, ‘God said unto me: Thou art my Son, and I have this day brought Thee forth.’
“Thus Gideon prophesied and said, ‘Behold, He shall come down like dew upon the earth.’
“Thus David the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, and from the temple of His sanctuary.’
“Thus Moses the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘And all the children of God shall say: He is strong, for He avengeth the blood of His sons.’
“Thus David prophesied and said, ‘And there will I make a horn to David to rise up, and I will prepare a lamp for Mine Anointed, and I will clothe His enemies with shame, and in Him shall My holiness flourish.’
“Thus Hosea the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘Fear not, for Thou shalt not be put to shame. And be not dismayed because of Thy praise.’ And again he said, ‘Hearken unto Me, hearken unto Me, My people, for My judgement (or, justice) is right. I will come and I will dwell with you, and the nations shall put their trust in My light; for the nations shall be the loved ones of Christ.’
“Thus David the Prophet said, ‘A people whom I do not know shall serve Me; at the mere hearing of the ear they shall answer Me.’ And to the Jews he said, ‘The children of the stranger have been false to me, the children of the stranger have become old and have travelled haltingly on their path. God liveth, and blessed [is] my God.’ When he saith unto thee, ‘God liveth,’ he speaketh of His Godhead, and when he saith unto thee ‘and blessed [is] my God,’ he speaketh concerning His putting on the flesh.
“And again he speaketh concerning His putting on the flesh in Isaiah the Prophet, saying, ‘Who is this glorious One who cometh forth from Edom, Adônâi, Who came down from heaven, and put on the things of Basôr, glorious in majesty?’ When he saith ‘glorious’ he refereth to His sweet odour; and when he saith ‘Adônâi,' he meaneth the Word of the Father Who was before the world, the Son of God; when he saith ‘He put on the things of Basôr, the glorious in majesty,’ he indicateth clearly the body of Adam.
“Thus David the Prophet prophesied saying concerning Christian folk, ‘Declare ye to the nations that God is King, and that He hath made fast the world so that it shall never be moved.’ And he also prophesied concerning His coming to the nations, and said, ‘Before the face of God shall He come, He shall come and shall judge the earth, and He shall judge the world in righteousness, and the nations with justice.’
“Thus Isaiah the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘The Lord of hosts hath planned to destroy the contumely of the nations, and He shall bring to nothing the nobles and the mighty ones of the earth.’ And continuing his prophecy he said, 'He shall come and shall build His house, and He shall deliver His people.’ And he added other words, saying, ‘And at that time there shall spring from the root of Jesse One Who shall be set over the nations, and the nations shall put their trust in Him, and the place where He shall abide shall be glorious for ever.’
“Thus David prophesied, and said, ‘Sing ye unto God Who dwelleth in Zion, and declare ye to the nation His work.’
"Thus Solomon his son prophesied and spake concerning our Saviour Emmanuel, the Sun of righteousness, ‘He brought Me forth before the hills, and before He made the lands and set them in order, and founded Me before the world; before He made the earth, and before He made the abysses, and before the waterfloods came forth, and the beauty of the flowers appeared, and before the winds blew, God created His work before His face, and I existed conjointly with My Father.’
“Thus his father David prophesied and said, ‘His name was before the sun, and before the moon, generation to generation.’
“Thus his son Solomon prophesied and said, ‘When He made strong the firmament above the clouds, and when He set in position the walls of the boundaries of the heavens, and when He set the sea in its appointed place, and before He founded His throne above the winds, and when He made strong the foundations of the earth, I existed conjointly with Him. I was that wherein He rejoiced continually, and day by day, and I exulted with Him at all times before His face.’
“Thus Job the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘The face of my God is in the East, and His light is before [that of] the sun, and the nations put their trust in His Name.’
“Thus Isaiah the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘Remember ye not the things of the past, and think not about the things of olden time; behold, I will make a new thing, which shall now spring up, so that ye may know that I make a road through the desert and water floods in the wilderness; and the beasts of the field shall follow after Me, and the young birds, and the ostriches. For I have given water in the desert, and made streams of water to flow in the wilderness, so that I may give drink to My people and to My chosen ones whom I have gotten, so that they may declare My glory, and perform My commandment.’
“Thus Solomon prophesied and said, ‘Who hath gone up into heaven and come down? And who hath gathered together the winds in his bosom? And who hath collected the waters in his garment? And who hath measured the waters of the sea in his hand, and the heavens on the palm of his hand? And what is his name and what is the name of his son?’
“Thus Micah the Prophet prophesied and said unto the Jews, ‘I have no pleasure in you, saith God Who ruleth all things. And I have no pleasure in your offerings, and I will accept no gift from your hands. For from the rising of the sun to the setting thereof shall My Name be praised among all peoples, and in all countries incense shall be offered up to my great Name among all peoples, saith Almighty God.’
“And again Micah the Prophet said, ‘A new covenant shall appear upon the mountain of God, and it shall be prepared upon the tops of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills, and people shall say, ‘Come ye, let us go up into the mountain of God.’ And many nations shall go thereto and shall say, ‘Come ye, let us go up into the mountain of God, and they shall declare unto us His way, and we will walk therein.’”
“Thus David the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘Hearken unto Me, O My people, and I will speak unto thee, Israel, and will bring testimony to thee; I am God, thy God.’
“Thus Moses the Prophet prophesied and said concerning the Trinity, ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord thy God is One.’ And this is to be explained thus Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit are One God, Whose kingdom is one, Whose dominion is one, and as One men shall worship Them in the heavens and in the earth, in the sea and in the abysses. And to Him be praise for ever and ever! Amen.”
107. CONCERNING HIS ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM IN GLORY
“And the Prophets have prophesied concerning His glorious entry into Jerusalem, and Isaiah the Prophet said, ‘Shine thou, shine thou, Jerusalem, thy light hath come and the glory of God hath risen upon thee.’
“Thus the Prophet Zechariah prophesied and said, ‘Rejoice, rejoice, daughter of Zion, and let Jerusalem shout for joy.’
“Thus David prophesied and said, ‘Out of the mouth of children and babes Thou hast prepared praise because of the enemy, so that Thou mightest overthrow the enemy and the avenger.’
“Thus Solomon prophesied and said, ‘The children are taught by God, and the peoples rejoice within thee.’
“Thus David his father prophesied and said, ‘Blow ye the horn in Zion, on the day of the new moon, on the appointed day of our festival, for it is an ordinance for Israel.’
“Thus Ezra the Scribe prophesied and said, ‘Get ye out, make ye a festival in gladness, and say unto the daughter of Zion, Rejoice thou, behold thy King hath come.’
“Thus Isaiah the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘Rejoice thou, Jerusalem, rejoice thou. Behold, thy King hath come riding upon an ass. His reward is with Him, and His work is before His face.’
Thus David the Prophet prophesied and said, ‘Blessed is He who cometh in the name of the Lord.’
“Thus Jacob the son of Isaac prophesied and said, ‘Judah, thy brethren have praised thee. Thine hand is upon the back of thine enemy, and the children of thy mother shall worship thee. And the dominion shall not diminish from Judah, and the government shall not depart from his kin, until he shall find Him Who hath been waited for, and Who is the Hope of the nations." And he also prophesied and said, ‘His teeth are white as with snow, and His eyes are glad as with wine, and He shall wash His apparel in wine and said, ‘His tunic in the blood of clusters of grapes.’
“And again he prophesied, saying, ‘Judah is a lion's whelp; thou hast lain down, and thou hast slept; no one shall wake him up except him that hunteth until he findeth him; rise up from thy strong place.’
“And again Jacob blessed his son Judah, and said unto him, ‘There is a King who shall go forth from thee and shall wash His apparel in wine, and glorious is the place of rest of the Beloved’; now, by ‘Beloved’ Christ is meant, and by ‘Messiah’ Christ is meant, and Jesus meaneth ‘Saviour of the people.’ Now the Prophets mention Christ under a secret name and they call Him ‘the Beloved.’
“And Isaiah spake concerning His Ascension in his prophecy, saying, ‘On that day the Beloved shall come down from heaven, and shall choose for Himself twelve Apostles.’ And again he said, ‘I have seen the ascension of the beloved Son to the seventh heaven, and the Angels and the Archangels receiving Him, He being very much higher than they.’
{Notice: The Notes on the Kebra Nagast for this statement say this is a “misquotation (?)” (presumably because it is not found in Canonized Scripture). The quotation, however, is from Isaiah’s prophecy in The Ascension of Isaiah, where, throughout, the Son of God is called, “The Beloved”, and specifically these words are found in Chapter 3:18-21;
“And David said, ‘The beloved is like the son of the unicorn’ and again he said, ‘And thine only one from the horns of the unicorn.’ And again he said, ‘Let my horn be exalted like that of the unicorn.’ ‘Horns’ meaneth the kingdoms of the world; and ‘unicorn’ meaneth He Who is over His kingdom Whom no one can resist, for He is the governor of kings; He destroyeth whom He will and He setteth up him whom He will. Even as David saith, ‘I will make thee to rejoice more than those who are mighty through their horns,’ which meaneth, ‘Thou art nobler than the noble kings, and thou dost rejoice.’
{Notice: Compare Psalm 22:20-21, here quoted, with various translations, for example the King James Version with the NASB, and NIV, and you will notice how “unicorn” has been translated}
‘And Habakkuk prophesied, saying, ‘Horns are in his hands, and he hath placed the beloved in the strength of his power,’ which meaneth, ‘The palms of the hand, wherein the life of all is held, of the holder of the dominion of kings, are pierced with nails, which Christ, the beloved, hath endured in the strength of His might.’”
Characteristics of a Priest in the Order of Melchizedek
Hebrews 6:19-20
19 “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 7:1-3
1 “For this Melchizedek, King of Salem, Priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, King of Righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is King of Peace.
3 “Without father , without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains Priest perpetually.”
Hebrews 7:9-12
9 “And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. 11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.”
Characteristics of a Priest, in the Order of Melchizedek
It is an Everlasting Priesthood
Hebrews 7:15-17
15“And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of *physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is attested of Him, ‘You are a priest forever according to the Order of Melchizedek.’” [Quoted from: Psalm 110:4]
[*Literally: fleshly requirement, that is, to be a descendant of Levi]
Hebrews 7:24-25
23 “The former priests, on the other hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because he continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.
2. It is a Victorious Priesthood
Genesis 14 — Battle of the Kings; Abram tithes to Melchizedek
Psalm 110:1-7
1 “The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.
2 The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying,
‘Rule in the midst of Your enemies.’
3 Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power; in holy array, from the womb of the dawn, Your youth are to You as the dew.
4 The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’
5 The Lord is at Your right hand; He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath.
6 He will judge among the nations, He will fill them with corpses, He will shatter the chief men over a broad country.
7 He will drink from the brook by the wayside; therefore He will lift up His head.”
Cross Reference: God-given provision, just as it is written in Psalm 110:7 according to the Abrahamic Covenant recorded in Genesis 12, 15, and 17.
1 Kings 17:4-6
4 “‘It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.’
5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.
6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook.”
Psalm 110 (LXX)
1 The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
2 The Lord shall send out a rod of power for thee out of Sion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
3 With thee is dominion in the day of thy power, in the splendours of thy saints: I have begotten thee from the womb before the morning.
4 The Lord sware, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedek.
5 The Lord at thy right hand has dashed in pieces kings in the day of his wrath.
6 He shall judge among the nations, he shall fill up the number of corpses, he shall crush the heads of many on the earth.
7 He shall drink of the brook in the way; therefore shall he lift up the head.”
3. Provides Complete Salvation through Intercession
Hebrews 7:25
“Therefore He is able to save forever [Or: completely] those who draw near to God through Him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”
4. Meets our Needs
Hebrews 7:26-28
26 “For it is fitting for us to have such a High Priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 Who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.”
5. Serves in the Heavenly Sanctuary
Hebrews 8:1-2
1 “Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a High Priest, Who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.”
6. He is the Mediator of the New Covenant
Hebrews 8:6-13
6 “But now He has obtained a more excellent Ministry, by as much as He is also the Mediator of a better Covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.
8 For finding fault with them, He says, 'Behold, days are coming,' says the Lord, ‘when I will effect a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;
9 Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they did not continue in My covenant, and I did not care for them,’ says the Lord.
10 ‘For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,’ says the Lord: I will put My laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
11 ‘And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen, and everyone his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all will know Me, from the least to the greatest of them.
12 ‘For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.’
13 When He said, ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.”
7. Empowers us to Live Like Jesus
1 John 2:1-6
1 “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
4 The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”
Standing in the gap and praying for others so that God will save them
I believe Ezekiel 22: 30 is one of the saddest statements God makes in all of Scripture about a people group.
“I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.”
Psalm 106
Psalm 106:8
“Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name, that He might make His power known.”
Psalm 106:10
“So He saved them from the hand of the one who hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.”
Psalm 106:23
“Therefore He said that He would destroy them, had not Moses His chosen one stood in the breach before Him, to turn away His wrath from destroying them.”
Psalm 106:30-31
30 “Then Phinehas stood up and interposed, and so the plane was stayed.
31 And it was reckoned to him for righteousness, to all generations forever.”
Cross Reference: The example of Abraham’s Faith
Romans 4:22-24
22 “Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness. 23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He Who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.”
Psalm 106:44-46
44 “Nevertheless He looked upon their distress when he heard their cry; 45 and He remembered His covenant for their sake, and relented according to the greatness of his lovingkindness. He also made them objects of compassion in the presence of all their captors.”
Galatians 6:2
“Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”
Romans 15:15-16
15 “But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God, 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 5:9-10
9 “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
KEY: In Christ, we are part of a Royal Priesthood, (in this Holy Nation, the Kingdom of God), in the Order of Melchizedek, along with Christ, as co-heirs with Him.
As we follow His example, according to 1 John 2:6, and Galatians 6:2, let us be found as one of those who, by interceding for one another, and carrying one another’s burdens with the help of Christ Jesus, present our bodies, these living stones, as a living sacrifice, according to Romans 12:1, according to the requirements of the Priesthood.
Our prayers for others are highly valuable, for as it is written:
Philippians 2:8-12
8 “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Our Collective Prayer in the Body of Christ
And so we say with John and the Holy Spirit, in the Book of Revelation at the end of Chapter 22, “Come, Lord Jesus.”
